Key Takeaways
Audi’s 2.5 TFSI engine has won Engine of the Year 9 times in a row, showcasing Audi’s long-standing expertise in five-cylinder motors. The 2.5 TFSI boasts impressive specs, with over 400 horsepower and a quick 0-60 time, making it a standout power plant in Audi’s lineup. Audi’s history with the five-pot motor dates back to the 1970s, with iconic models like the Quattro rally car and RS 2 Avant contributing to its legacy.
While the five-cylinder motor isn’t the most well-known or widely adopted in the United States, continental Europe has seen plenty of them over the years. Perhaps one of the most famous creators of five-pot engines is Audi, whose expertise on the matter spans nearly five decades. It’s that expertise that’s earned them quite an impressive title in the automotive world.
As of 2018, Audi’s 2.5-liter TFSI inline-five engine has won Engine of the Year nine times in a row, breaking the previous record in the process. To create a power plant as impressive as the 2.5 TFSI, Audi had to pull out all the stops. So, what were the fruits of that labor? What’s the engine like? CarBuzz will take you on a short dive into the Audi 2.5 TFSI, and we’ll get to see just what makes the 2.5 TFSI so special.
Historical information regarding Audi’s 2.5 TFSI engine was sourced directly from Audi’s official website. Specs shown below pertain to the 2.5 TFSI sold in the US market, specifically.
Audi’s 2.5 TFSI Engine Is the Champion
Audi USA
Audi 2.5 TFSI Quick Facts
Its winning streak spans from 2010–2018 The engine is currently used in the Audi RS3 Distinctive engine sound due to unique firing order
Audi’s 2.5 TFSI five-cylinder engine has won Engine of the Year nine times in a row, a feat that has been seldom-matched or beaten in automotive history. It’s no surprise Audi has been able to create a truly great five-cylinder, as the automaker’s history with the five-pot motor spans nearly five decades, beginning in 1976 with the Audi 100’s 2.1-liter inline-five. A few years later, Audi shoehorned an inline-five into their Quattro rally car, which went on to become a World Rally Championship icon.
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The 2.5 TFSI’s life began back in 2009, and was already winning itself Engine of the Year by 2010. Its first application was the Audi TT RS, quickly followed by the Audi RS3, which was introduced in 2011. Back then, the 2.5 TFSI put out 335 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, a seriously impressive amount of power for an engine that size at the time. It also saw use in the Audi RS Q3 subcompact SUV.
These days, the 2.5 TFSI resides in only the Audi RS3 and its variations. The Audi TT has been discontinued, with production ceasing in 2023, leaving the RS3 as the sole recipient of the 2.5 TFSI. Despite its tiny displacement, the current 2.5 TFSI is powerful enough to propel the RS3 from 0-60 MPH at a time that’s quicker than even some expensive sports cars.
Base MSRP $62,300
Engine 2.5L Turbo Inline-5 Gas
Horsepower 401 hp
Torque 369 lb-ft
Transmission 7-Speed DCT
Drivetrain AWD
0-60 MPH 3.6 seconds
Top Speed 155 mph
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Just How Impressive Is the Award-Winning 2.5 TFSI?
Audi
2.5 TFSI Specs
Horsepower
401 hp
Torque
369 lb-ft
0-60 MPH
3.6 seconds
Top Speed
155 mph (limited)
Audi’s current five-banger is no slouch by any stretch. In just a 2.5-liter package, it manages to produce over 400 horsepower and nearly 400 lb-ft of torque. Interestingly, Euro-market 2.5 TFSI’s only produce 394 horses due to the EU requiring a gasoline particulate filter to be installed within a vehicle’s fuel system, whereas the United States doesn’t. Thanks to its 401 horses here in the US, the Audi RS3, the only model Audi uses the 2.5 TFSI in currently, can get from 0-60 mph in just over three and a half seconds.
In its current application, the 2.5 TFSI utilizes some special features to develop in excess of 400 hp. Originally, the engine featured a cast-iron crankcase, which is a durable material, but quite heavy, so, come 2016, Audi engineers redesigned the block and decided to switch to aluminum for the casting material, which shaved nearly 40 pounds off the motor’s total weight. Some other things Audi has developed for the 2.5 TFSI is a water pump that can be disengaged to help decrease engine load. It’s also got variable valve timing built in and plasma-coated cylinder walls to help decrease piston/cylinder wall friction.
One of the most pertinent features of the 2.5 TFSI is Audi’s variable outlet valve timing, called the Audi Valvelift System. The AVS is able to meter the amount of exhaust gases that flow through the turbocharger, which helps to reduce turbo lag. In short, the 2.5 TFSI’s AVS system’s efforts help to increase torque and quicken throttle responsiveness.
Expert Opinion
I first experienced Audi’s turbocharged five-cylinder in the first-generation TTRS. That car was stupid fast, even though it’s down on power compared to this engine’s most recent output. It offers the best of both worlds: There’s blistering performance when you want it, but it’s unbelievably frugal when you’re simply cruising along on the freeway. And then there’s the noise… You can drive around imagining you’re Walter Rohrl behind the wheel of a Group B rally car. It’s simply one of the best noises to ever come out of the rear of a car.
Audis That Featured The 2.5 TFSI
Today, only the Audi RS3 enjoys the application of the 2.5 TFSI, but it wasn’t always this way. Historically, three models got the 2.5 TFSI treatment, and while one of those is set to return soon without confirmation of what motor it will use, another was discontinued without a successor to take its place.
The Audi RS Q3 is a small, hot-headed SUV belonging to the subcompact luxury class. It’s based on the Audi Q3, and sports that 2.5-liter TFSI magic motor. The regular Q3 been around for the last nine years in the US market, but the RS Q3 wasn’t destined for our shores. Across the pond, the Q3 and RS Q3 are more popular, with the last of the stock selling out rapidly. We’re waiting for an updated version of the small SUV, but we don’t know if the RS Q3 will make a comeback just yet.
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The Audi TT RS also received the 2.5 TFSI treatment pre-2022, after which it was discontinued due to poor sales. In the spicy little speedster, the five-pot put out 394 hp and 354 lb-ft, which was sufficient for a benchmark sprint time of under 3.5 seconds in real world tests. Audi knew it was something special, and launched the Audi TT RS Coupe Iconic Edition as a farewell.
Other Audi Five-Cylinder Engines
Notable Audi five-cylinder vehicles
1980 Audi Quattro: 2.1-Liter Turbo 1994 Audi RS2 Avant: 2.2-Liter Turbo 1976 Audi 100: 2.1-Liter N/A, first inline-five produced by Audi
The first ever Audi five-pot was showcased in the 1976 Audi 100 as a 2.1-liter naturally-aspirated unit. Back then, it only made 136 hp which, at the time, wasn’t that bad considering other models were still regularly manufacturing cars with double-digit figures. The 2.1 five-cylinder remained largely the same until 1980, when the new Audi Quattro was unveiled.
The new Quattro was revolutionary in that it was a normal road car with an all-wheel drive system, something quite unheard of 44 years ago. Using a turbocharged version of the 2.1-liter five-cylinder, the Quattro went on to win several World Rally Championship titles over the course of the next few years.
Another famous Audi inline-five recipient is the Audi RS 2 Avant, a performance wagon that’s etched itself into the fabric of motoring history quite deeply, especially in Europe. The RS 2 was a joint effort undertaken by both Audi and Porsche to take the normal Audi 80 Avant estate and turn it into a fire-breather – the first of the ‘RS’ clan. The five-cylinder engine used was an Audi 2.2-liter unit that was heavily modified by Porsche to the point where it could reliably create 311 horsepower and 302 lb-ft of torque. The RS 2 Avant enjoys a serious cult-following today.
Other Award-Winning Audi Engines
Audi
While the 2.5-liter five-cylinder is an impressive unit, it’s not the only Audi motor to be recognized for its excellence. There are several other Audi-made engines that have featured on Ward’s 10 Best Engines lists, with some Audi motors winning International Engine of the Year Awards, too (IEOTY). Here’s a list of all award-winning Audi engines, with those which earned the IEOTY marked.
Audi 1.8-Liter Inline-Four: 1997, 2001 Audi 2.0-Liter TFSI Inline-Four: 2009 (IEOTY), 2019 (IEOTY) Audi 2.0-Liter EA888 Inline-Four: 2009, 2010 Audi 2.0-Liter EA827/EA113 Inline-Four: 2006, 2007, 2008 Audi 2.5-Liter V6 TDI: 1999 (IEOTY) Audi 2.7-Liter V6: 2000 Audi 3.0-Liter V6: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 Audi 3.2-Liter V6: 2001, 2005 Audi 4.2-Liter V8: 2004, 2005, 2006